This review may contain spoilers
Homophobia corrodes everything it touches… and abuse does too.
This series has left me thinking a lot of things... It was an interesting mix of sweetness and toxicity. Not my cup of tea, but interesting nonetheless.
Lu Feng: He’s the strongest character, and I liked his determination and his unapologetic “screw the world, screw homophobes” attitude. He never hid himself, but his obsession with Xiao Chen overshadowed everything. Growing up with abusive parents and enduring constant rejection left him scarred, but trauma isn’t an excuse to harm the person you claim to love. He’s a walking black flag. Yes, he eventually changed for the better, but if I were Xiao Chen, I’d never date him again. No redemption arc can erase the damage he caused.
Xiao Chen: The personality most crushed by homophobia. Weak‑minded, overly complacent, and raised in a seemingly perfect family until prejudice tore it apart. His father died without ever accepting him, and his mother forced him into a sham marriage to meet her expectations. Both parents left without truly embracing who he was, which is heartbreaking. He wanted love but also wanted to please his parents, and that conflict wrecked his mind. Despite enduring homophobia and Lu Feng’s Novichok‑level toxicity, he survived when many would have given up. Still, he never prioritized himself, even when it meant sacrificing his own happiness. Points for being a dutiful son, but at what cost?
Yi Chen: Not a bad brother. He clearly loves Xiao Chen and accepted him more than their parents did, even if he struggled at first. His slip‑ups—like lying with good intentions, were forgivable. Stronger in spirit than Xiao Chen, he managed to build a healthy relationship despite parental homophobia. Honestly, he was the luckiest of them all.
Qin Lang: Pure boyfriend material. Handsome, considerate, and the green flag this series desperately needed. He handled homophobia with firmness but also empathy, recognizing parents sometimes need time to adjust. Always supportive of Yi Chen, though I wish he’d had more screen time to balance out the sadistic mess of the main couple.
The homophobia arc felt raw and honest. But once the torture arc began, everything collapsed. I still don’t understand why Xiao Chen didn’t send Lu Feng straight to jail. Then again, you can’t force people to leave toxic environments, even if it’s for their own good. And please can we retire the tired “I don’t like men, only you” cliché?
The recovery and redemption arc was rushed, and it felt like the mental health struggles were treated far too lightly.
Conclusion: I wish the series had focused more on the second couple. Xiao Chen endured far too much, while Lu Feng’s determination and independence don’t excuse his cruelty. Trauma and mental illness should never be used as a shield for abuse. The series desperately need disclaimers. That said, the acting was excellent, the cast delivered love, fear, and hate with intensity. If I ever rewatch this, I'll definitely skip a couple of episodes and pretend they never happened.
Also, I'd like to add that If you take morals too seriously, skip certain episodes, or even the entire series, the main couple is as toxic as Novichok. It will set off every moral alarm.
Lu Feng: He’s the strongest character, and I liked his determination and his unapologetic “screw the world, screw homophobes” attitude. He never hid himself, but his obsession with Xiao Chen overshadowed everything. Growing up with abusive parents and enduring constant rejection left him scarred, but trauma isn’t an excuse to harm the person you claim to love. He’s a walking black flag. Yes, he eventually changed for the better, but if I were Xiao Chen, I’d never date him again. No redemption arc can erase the damage he caused.
Xiao Chen: The personality most crushed by homophobia. Weak‑minded, overly complacent, and raised in a seemingly perfect family until prejudice tore it apart. His father died without ever accepting him, and his mother forced him into a sham marriage to meet her expectations. Both parents left without truly embracing who he was, which is heartbreaking. He wanted love but also wanted to please his parents, and that conflict wrecked his mind. Despite enduring homophobia and Lu Feng’s Novichok‑level toxicity, he survived when many would have given up. Still, he never prioritized himself, even when it meant sacrificing his own happiness. Points for being a dutiful son, but at what cost?
Yi Chen: Not a bad brother. He clearly loves Xiao Chen and accepted him more than their parents did, even if he struggled at first. His slip‑ups—like lying with good intentions, were forgivable. Stronger in spirit than Xiao Chen, he managed to build a healthy relationship despite parental homophobia. Honestly, he was the luckiest of them all.
Qin Lang: Pure boyfriend material. Handsome, considerate, and the green flag this series desperately needed. He handled homophobia with firmness but also empathy, recognizing parents sometimes need time to adjust. Always supportive of Yi Chen, though I wish he’d had more screen time to balance out the sadistic mess of the main couple.
The homophobia arc felt raw and honest. But once the torture arc began, everything collapsed. I still don’t understand why Xiao Chen didn’t send Lu Feng straight to jail. Then again, you can’t force people to leave toxic environments, even if it’s for their own good. And please can we retire the tired “I don’t like men, only you” cliché?
The recovery and redemption arc was rushed, and it felt like the mental health struggles were treated far too lightly.
Conclusion: I wish the series had focused more on the second couple. Xiao Chen endured far too much, while Lu Feng’s determination and independence don’t excuse his cruelty. Trauma and mental illness should never be used as a shield for abuse. The series desperately need disclaimers. That said, the acting was excellent, the cast delivered love, fear, and hate with intensity. If I ever rewatch this, I'll definitely skip a couple of episodes and pretend they never happened.
Also, I'd like to add that If you take morals too seriously, skip certain episodes, or even the entire series, the main couple is as toxic as Novichok. It will set off every moral alarm.
Was this review helpful to you?
